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Diamondbacks seeking All-Star help

Diamondbacks seeking All-Star help

PHOENIX -- There's still time -- but not much -- to vote for your favorite Diamondbacks players for next month's All-Star Game.

Fans can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times with the Ameriquest 2005 All-Star Online Ballot. Online balloting ends at 8:59 p.m. MST on June 30, but voting at Bank One Ballpark ends June 26.

Arizona players have been lagging in the balloting from the start, though that could change as the team launched a get out the vote campaign 10 days ago.

In the spirit of the movie "Napoleon Dynamite," the club is hoping to spur the candidacies of Craig Counsell, Troy Glaus and Luis Gonzalez.

Based on the movie's "Vote for Pedro" motif, the Diamondbacks are asking their fans to "Vote for Craig," "Vote for Troy" and "Vote for Gonzo." Ballpark personnel have been wearing shirts and buttons with the above slogans.

In addition, the team hosted an All-Star Ballot Party at Sliders, a restaurant located on the Bank One Ballpark plaza, where fans cast ballots while partaking in food and drink specials.

Arizona players could use all the help available, as once again only Glaus ranks in the top five at any position.

Glaus is third among National League third basemen in the fan voting, trailing the Cardinals' Scott Rolen and the Cubs' Aramis Ramirez.

Signed as a free agent last offseason, Glaus has proven to be completely recovered from last year's shoulder injury. He has given the Diamondbacks the true cleanup hitter they've lacked in recent years, and his presence has helped No. 3 hitter Luis Gonzalez get better pitches to hit.

Surprisingly, Gonzalez, who has swung a hot bat for the D-Backs, is not even among the top 15 in the balloting for NL outfielders.

Glaus has appeared in three All-Star Games during his career. He was a reserve in 2000 and 2001 before being voted in as a starter in 2003, becoming the first Angels player to start an All-Star Game since Wally Joyner did so in 1986.

Along with Gonzalez, Counsell certainly deserves some consideration from fans. Counsell has done a great job for the Diamondbacks in the leadoff role and at second base. Jeff Kent is the NL's leading vote-getter at the position.

Steve Gilbert is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.